Transcript The Battle of Thermopylae

The Battle of Thermopylae
The Greco-Persian Wars
• The Historical Significance of the Greek
Persian Wars
Persia Thirst for Revenge
• Persia had a new leader. After the death of
Darius, his son, Xerxes ruled the Persian
Empire.
• 3 Theories around Darius
– He was a weak leader (losing to Athens – Kicked out)
– Too old to keep up.
– Died
• Son, “Xerxes,” grows up vowing to revenge his
father’s loss. Very strict authoritarian ruler.
• Thought of himself as a living God.
Xerxes assumes power and amasses huge army of over
200,000+ strong
and 1000 ships!
Cooperation Among Greece
• Athenians hear about Xerxes’ thirst for revenge
and they look for help from neighboring citystates.
• Many other Greek city states agree to help. 1st
time wide scale co-operation between the
Greeks… (Historically significant)
• Sparta and Athens decided to work together to
fight the Persians.
– Sparta had a very strong army
– Athens had a strong navy.
Deja Vu
• Once again, Greeks heavily outnumbered.
Persians
Greeks
7300
200,000
Infantry
1200
Navy
200
20,000
Cavalry
0
(300 Spartans)
• The Spartans were led by Leonidas, the
King of Sparta. His troops were the
ultimate warriors.
Thermopylae
The Battle at Thermopylae
• August of 480 BC
• The Greeks were waiting for the Persians
at Thermopylae.
• (If the Persians wanted to get into mainland
Greece they would have to take this pass.)
• Xerxes sat on a golden throne atop the
pass to watch the battle.
• For the first two days the 7300 Greek
soldiers were able to hold off the Persians,
slaughtering the Persians. (Even Xerxes’ elite
“Immortals”)
A Traitor Among the Greeks
• A Greek soldier (Ephialtes) betrayed the
Greeks and showed Xerxes a path that
would lead the Persian troops behind the
Greeks.
• Leonidas sends the Athenians home
knowing they are going to lose.
• This way the Athenians could defend the
city.
• The Persians slaughtered the remaining
Spartans, all were killed.
“The last stand…..
Leonidas
Statue of Leonidas in Sparta today.
Result of Thermopylae
• Created a sense of nationalism among the Greeks as it
was the first time they Greek city-states fought together.
This continued.
• It showed Xerxes that conquering Greece was not going
to be easy. The Greeks were a strong, determinded and
skilled force. (just as Marathon had shown Darius)
• The courageous self-sacrifice of Leonidas and his men
won the Greeks two significant advantages.
– First, it bought Greeks thetime necessary to reorganize and
assemble their forces for the sea-battle to come,
• (what had to happen when such great navies were brought into
such close proximity.)
– Second and more important, it gave them a chance to prepare
for Xerxes' invasion of Attica which by now was inevitable, too.